Airbus reveals date for A350F freighter's maiden flight

Dhaka: Airbus has announced the date for the first flight of its A350F cargo aircraft, along with plans to livestream the event for the public.

In a social media post on September 25, the European planemaker confirmed that the maiden flight of the freighter variant is scheduled for September 29 at 10:20 am CEST.

Airbus said the milestone follows five years of detailed planning along with component and demonstrator testing. Earlier this month, the planemaker confirmed the program had moved from the "Virtual First Flight" stage to the real one.

Laurent Bussiere, Lead Flight Test Engineer for the A350F program, said that despite being built on the A350-1000 platform, the freighter still requires extensive testing due to its distinct dimensions.

He explained that the aircraft's fuselage combines an A350-900 forward section with an A350-1000 rear section and wings, creating a new aerodynamic model that affects flight control and ground maneuvering.

Bussiere added that the unique configuration means the whole system's behavior must be studied afresh, which is why the team relies on development simulators ahead of the first flight and the subsequent flight test campaign spanning 400 flight hours.

In recent weeks, a test A350F has been spotted conducting high-speed rejected takeoffs in Toulouse, France.

The inaugural test flight will carry a five-person crew, including two pilots, one test flight engineer, and two flight test engineers.

Airbus expects the certification campaign to last around nine months, involving two test aircraft, identified as MSN700 and MSN701.